Orbán Calls for Von der Leyen’s Exit

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has openly called for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resign, using the eve of a significant European Parliament vote to intensify his criticism.

Posting on social media on July 9, Orbán shared an image of von der Leyen stepping out of a red frame, alongside the caption «Time to go», a clear nod to his view that her tenure should end.

The timing is notable, as the European Parliament is set to vote today, on July 10, on whether von der Leyen should retain her position at the head of the EU executive. The vote follows mounting scrutiny over her undisclosed messaging with Pfizer’s CEO during the COVID-19 pandemic — a controversy that has raised questions about transparency.

Earlier this week, von der Leyen dismissed the allegations and instead cautioned against the growing influence of extremist movements in Europe, which she said were spreading disinformation to divide societies.

Tensions Escalate Amid Economic and Political Clashes

In a second post on Wednesday, Orbán framed the upcoming vote as a pivotal moment, writing: «Tomorrow will be a turbulent day in the European Parliament.» He went on to claim that «corruption is just the tip of the iceberg,» and argued that the real issue was von der Leyen’s overall competence and the direction in which she is taking Europe.

The Hungarian leader’s remarks came shortly after the European Commission issued its latest economic recommendations, urging Hungary to introduce lasting budgetary reforms to address its deficit.

Budapest quickly rejected the advice. In a statement, Hungary’s economy ministry said, «Unlike Brussels, the government puts Hungarian families, pensioners and businesses first — not multinational corporations.»

The rift between Brussels and Budapest has widened in recent years, with billions of euros in EU funds frozen over Hungary’s breaches of rule-of-law standards. With national elections on the horizon, Orbán has sharpened his attacks on the EU, repeatedly criticising its leadership and vocal support for Ukraine — both of which remain central to his ongoing political campaign.

Kursiv also reports that a senior official in Donald Trump’s team has come under scrutiny after revelations that he misrepresented his birthplace.